Sheet holder



Och 17, T950 s oNN 2,526,091

SHEET HOLDER Filed Jan. 5, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.3

INVENTOR BRUCE K. SLONNEGER ms ATTCRNEY Oat. 17, 1950 a. K. SLONNEGER2,526,091

SHEET HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1949 INVENTOR BRUCE K.SLONNEGER HIS ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 17 Claims.

This invention relates to a sheet holder adapted to receive a plurality,or pile, of superposed individually removable sheets, such as salesslips or the like. The present invention is a further development of thetype of sheet holder shown in the pending applications of Bruce K.Slonneger and Clifford S. Slonneger, Serial Number 681,012, filed July2, 1946, and of Bruce K. Slonneger, Serial Number 49,569, filedSeptember 16, 1948, and Serial Number 57,845, filed November 2, 1948.

One object of the invention is to provide a sheet holder of a simple,efficient construction which can be produced at a relatively low cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a structure with asheet supporting member which, when the closure is moved to its openposition, will move automatically to a position to permit used sheets,or carbon copies, to be inserted in the holder below the sheetsupporting member.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a sheet holder withsheet retaining means which will prevent the relative displacement ofthe sheets in all positions to which the sheet supporting member may bemoved and from which the uppermost sheet can be quickly and easilywithdrawn.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for supporting aresilient sheet supporting member on the end wall of the holder andpreventing the vertical movement thereof. A further object of theinvention is to provide a sheet holder with simple, easily operatedmeans for releasing the closure for complete removal from the holder.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sheet holder which canbe used with equal facility in connection with a pile of unconnectedsheets or with a pad of sheets the end portions of which are attachedone to the other, such as a sales book.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the device is described indetail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a sheet holderembodying the invention, partly broken away; Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view taken through such a holder; Fig. 3 is a side elevationof the holder with the closure in its open position; Fig. 4 is a rearend elevation of the holder of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section taken throughone end of the holder showing a sales book mounted therein; Fig. 6 is asimilar view showing a pile of unconnected sheets supported in theholder; Fig. '7 is a top plan view of a slightly modified formof thefront end portion of the holder; Fig. 8 is a top plan view of amodification of the invention with the closure in its open position andpartly broken away; Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken through the bottommember and the sheet supporting member of the holder of Fig. 8 andShOWiIlg the top member in elevation and partly broken away; Fig. '10 isa section taken on the line Ill-40 of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a sideelevation of a front end portion of the holder with the closure in itsclosed position; and Fig 12 is a side elevation of a part of the holdershowing the connection between the top member and the bottom member.

In these drawings I have illustrated two embodiments of my invention andhave shown the same as particularly adapted for use with sales slips orsale books, but it is to be understood that the holder may take variousforms and may be used with sheets of various kinds, the word sheet beingherein used to include either a one piece sheet or a multiple sheet unitcomprising upper and lower parts which may be detached one from theother.

In that embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to '7 the holder comprises a bottommember, a top member mo-vably supported on the bottom member and a sheetsupporting member which is supported between the top and bottom membersand arranged to divide the space between said" members into an uppercompartment to receive and support unused sheets and a lower compartmentto receive and store used sheets, or copies. In the particulararrangement shown the bottom member comprises a shallow receptaclehaving a bottom wall 20, side walls 2|, a front end wall 22 and a rearend wall 23. The receptacle is preferably formed from a single sheet ofmetal drawn or otherwise formed to the desired shape. The end and sidewalls are in the present instance of substantially the same height. Thetop member constitutes a movable closure for the receptacle andpreferably comprises a fiat sheet 24 slidably supported on the sidewalls 2| of the receptacle, as by providing the closure with inturnededge portions 25 forming guideways which embrace and are slidable onoutturned flanges 26 at the upper edges of the side walls. In thepresent instance it is provided at its rear end with a downwardlyextending, curved end wall 21.

The sheet supporting member which is interposed between the bottom wallof the receptacle and the top member, or closure, is adapted to receiveand support a pile of superposed sheets and. that end portion of thesupporting structure ad;-.v

jacent the front wall 22 is biased upwardly but is held normally in itsdepressed position by the closure 24. When the closure is retracted, ormoved to its open position, the upwardly biased portion of thesupporting member moves upward- ;ly out of the receptacle. Thesupporting member may take various forms. Preferably it comprises asheet 28 of resilient material the rear end of which is held againstvertical movement and the forward portion of which is biased upwardly.In the arrangement here shown the rear end of the supporting structure28 is mounted directly upon the rearend wall 23 of the receptacle. Forthat purpose the rear end portion of the sheet is bent upwardly and thendownwardly to form a U-shaped structure 29 adapted to receive the upperportion of the end wall 23 and to fit snugly about the same, thusholding the rear end of the supporting member against movement. Theforward portion of the supporting member is inclined upwardly andforwardly and is biased in an upward direction. At its forward endithesupporting member is provided with an inwardly or rearwardly extendingmember which overhangs the forward end portion of the pile of sheets 39aon the supporting member. In the arrangement shownthe forward endportion of the supporting member is. bent upwardly as shown at. 3B andthenrearwardly to provide a lip 3! which is spaced vertically from theadjacent portionof the .supporting member. In the. present instance.there is mounted on the lip 3! a U- shapedelement 32 the purpose ofwhich will hereinafter appear, and this U-shaped element forms a part ofthe overhanging member which serves to'limit the upward movement of theforward end portion of the pile of sheets.

For the. purpose of moving the end portion of the pile. of sheets towardthe overhanging member and holding the same. against displacement thereis mounted on the sheet supporting member a sheetvretaining devicehaving an upwardly biased partzarranged below and engaging the endportion of the pile of sheets. Irrthe arrangement here shownthisretaining devicecomprises-a sheet of resilient material 33preferably of length and breadth somewhat less than the length andbreadth of the supporting member, and therrear portion of: the retainingmember is rigidly secured to the sheet supporting member, prefer-ablyapproximately midway between the ends thereof, as by spot welding asshown at 34. The retaining member extends forwardly and upwardly from.its line. of connection with the supporting member, with its forward endbelow the overhanging member or lip, and this forward portion is biasedupwardly and engages the end portion of the pile of sheets withsufficient pressure to firmly grip. the same and prevent the accidentaldisplacement of the sheets, but to permit the sheets to be individuallywithdrawn. However, it is preferable to provide means for positivelypreventing the longitudinal displacementof the sheets, and for thispurpose a bar 60-is secured to .an intermediate part of the supportingmember andhas at its rear end an upwardly extending part 6! to engagethe rear end of the pile of sheets. It will be understood that when theU-shaped element 32 is not used the lip 3| alone. constitutes theoverhanging member with which the retaining member cooperates, such, anarrangement being shown in Fig. 9.

As has been stated, the upwardly biased portion of the sheet supportingstructure is retained in its depressed position by the top closure 24.

4 When the closure is in its forward, or fully closed, position theforward end thereof may extend either below or above the overhangingmember, iii-32, and when the closure extends below the overhangingmember the end portion of the pile of sheets is pressed against thelower surface of the closure, as shown in Fig. 2. When the closure ismoved from its closed position to its open position the free or mainportion of the uppermost sheet of the. pile of sheets may be separatedfrom the next lower sheet and elevated above the level of the closure topermit the latter to be moved forwardly beneath the same and thusprovide a writing support for the sheet. Usually a sales slip comprisestwo parts and a transfer medium is interposed between the two parts sothat the record written on the upper part will also appear on the lowerpart. In some instances the transfer medium is applied to the lowersurface of the upper part of the sheet but in other instances it isdesir bleto; employ a separate transfermedium, or carbon sheet, andthe'purpose of the U-shaped" member 32 is to provide means for attachingthe end portion of the carbon sheet to the sheet supporting member sothat it may be inserted between two parts of each sheet unit as theunits are successively withdrawn from the receptacle for use. To attachthe carbonsheet to the supporting member the U-shaped member isremovedfrom the lip M, the end of the carbon,

sheet is inserted between the two parts of the U-shaped member-andfolded about the rear edge of the lower part thereof and the U-shapedmember then replaced on the lip 3|, thus causing the inserted portion ofthe carbon sheet to be gripp d firmly between the U-shaped member andthe lip and to extend forwardly inline with the lower surface of theoverhanging, member. Normally when the holder is not in use the carbonsheet will be within the-receptacle above the pile of sheets and belowthe closure. When the closure is moved to its open position the carbonsheet and the free portion of the uppermost sheet of the pile arewithdrawn, the closure then moved forwardly into supporting relation tothe withdrawn sheet, and the carbon sheet inserted between the upper andlower partsxof the sheet. The end portion of the closure is movedbeneath the overhanging member 3-|32 and between the endportions of thewithdrawn sheet and the next lower sheet and the carbon sheet extendsforwardly in a straight line and is free from bend or buckle. When theentry has been made on .the withdrawn sheetthe latter is removed as awhole from the retaining devices. and the end portion of the. withdrawnsheet having no contact with'the next lower sheet the removal thereofhas no tendency to displace the. lower sheet; Hie closure is then movedto its open position, thereby releasing the upwardly biased endportion'of the sheet sup..- porting memberfor movementto a positionabove and spaced from the front end wall ofv the receptacle, as shown inFig. and the lowerpart or copy of the record sheetiszdetached. andinserted through thespace between the elevated end of the sheetsupportin member and the front end wall of the receptacle into thelatter.

It is desirable that theclosure shall be com;- pletely removable fromthe receptacle but. it is also desirable that means should be providedto prevent the accidental complete removal of the closure. In thepresent instance the closure is provided adjacent its lower forward endwith one or more downwardly extending projections 35, such assmalldepressions, which form stops. The

' the severalhinge members.

' on the supporting member.

vertical l'ength o'f these projections is such that they may move overthe upper edge of end wall and over the U-shaped part-29 of the sheetsupporting structure, the latter being spaced slightly below the lowersurface of the closure. Mounted on the rear end wall of the receptacle,and in the present instance on the U-shaped structure 29, are-twoU-shaped clips 36 the upper endsof which are in contact with or are veryclose to the lower surface of the closure and these clipsare movablelengthwise of the end wall 23 intoand 'out of positions in the line ofmovement of-the projections" 35. When the clips are'in the line ofmovement of the projections the outward movement of the closureisinterrupted before it is""compl'etely withdrawn. When the clips aremoved out of line with the projections-the lattier "can move'over theU-shaped structure 29, thus'permittin'g the closure to be completelyWithdrawn. i

In Fig. I I have shown the upper wall ofthe U-shaped member 32, which iscarried by the sheet' supporting member, as provided with a longitudinalslot 31 of such size that a name card or the like inserted betweentheupper wall of the member 32 and the lip 3| can be read through theslot.

In Figs.- 8 to 12 there is shown a modified construction in which theinvention is embodied in a hinged holder of the type shown inapplication Serial Number 681,012, above mentioned. As shown in thesefigures the bottom member comprises a receptacle having a bottom wall46, an upwardly curved forward end wall 4| and side walls "42 of aheight substantially less than the height'of the front wall. The sheetsupporting member 43 is pivotally connected at its rear end with therear end of the bottom wall 40 of the receptacle and as here shown thesheet supporting member is provided at its rear end with a downwardlyturned intermediate portion 43a the lower edge portion of which isrolled to form a hinge member 44. The bottom wall of the receptacle isprovided at each side of the hinged member 44 with extensions which arerolled to form hinge membersf45, a hinge pin 46 extending through Thedownturned portion 43a of the supporting member supports the rear. endof the latter inspaced relation to the bottom wall .40 and the forwardportion of the supporting member is biased upwardly as shown in Fig. 9,the supporting member being preferably formed of resilient sheet metal.At its forthe rear" sliding and supporting engagement with the laterwardend the supporting member is provided with an upwardly extending part 41the upper portion of which is bent rearwardly to form a lip 48 whichoverhangs the end portion of a pile of sheets 49 As here shown theoverhanging member 48 isin direct contact with the top surface of thepile of sheets but if des ired it could be provided with a member forattaching a carbon sheet thereto, as shown at 32 in Fig. 2. A resilientsheet retaining member 50 is secured at its rear end. to'the sheetsupporting member 43 and the forward portion thereof is inclined andbiased upwardly with its forward end below the lip 48 to grip the endportions of the sheets between the same and the lip.

The top member comprises a downwardly curved rear end wall '52 anddownwar'dly' extending :side walls 53 which extend downwardly below theupper edges of. the side walls 42'of the receptacle and on the innersides of the side walls 42. The lower edge portions of the side Walls 53are offset inwardly to protop wall 5|, a

al edge portions of the sheet supporting member 43. The forward portionsof the sidewalls 53 extend downwardly, as shown at 55, to form shoulderswhich engage the hinge pin 46 and limit the outward or opening movementofthe closure. The forward ends of the side walls 53 are curved, asshown at 56, to conform to the curvature of the front wall 4| of thereceptacle and when the closure is in its foremost or closing positionthese rounded ends 56 of the side walls 53 extend into the curved endwall 4| and thus hold the receptacle against downward movement withrelation to the sheet supporting member and closure. In this positionthe 010- sure retains the forward portion of the sheet supporting memberin its depressed position and the forward end of the top plate 5| of theclosure may extend either above or below the lip 48. When the closure ismoved rearwardly to its open position the forward portion of the sheetsupporting member is released for upward movement and the receptacle isreleased for downward movement with relation to the sheet supportingmember. However, in practice the receptacle is usually supported in onehand of the operator and the sheet supporting member and the closure aremoved about the axis 46 with relation thereto. With the closure in itsopen position the free or main portion of the uppermost sheet of thepile of sheets may be withdrawn andv the closure is then moved forwardlybeneath the withdrawn sheet to form a support therefor, the

forward end of the top wall 5| extending beneath of the uppermost sheetand the next lower sheet of the pile, and the curved end portions of theclosure extending into the end wall 4| of the receptacle to retain theseveral parts in fixed relative positions while an entry is being madeupon the withdrawn sheet. When the entry has been made the withdrawnsheet is removed from the pile and the top plate 5| being between thetwo upper sheets the removal of the uppermost sheet has no tendency todisplace the next lower sheet. However, it is preferable to provide thesheet supporting member at its rear end with an upwardly extending stopmember 51 to hold the sheets at all times against relative longitudinaldisplacement. The withdrawn sheet, or a copy thereof, if a copy is made,is inserted in the receptacle, the latter being preferably provided withan upwardly biased finger 58 which retains the sheets in the receptaclewhen the latter is in its open position. The receptacle and the closureare then moved into substantial alinement and the closure movedforwardly to depress the forward portion of'the sheet supportingstructure and to engage the rounded ends of the side walls of theclosure with the end wall 4| of the receptacle to again secure theseveral parts in their closed positions. 1

While I have shown and described two embodiments of my invention I wishit to be understood thatI do not desire to be limited to the de tails"thereof as various modifications may occur i to a person skilled in theart.

Having now fully described my invention what I'claim as new and desiretosecure by Letters Patent is;

spaced from said bottommember and said top member, one end portion of'said supporting member being biased upwardly and being normally held-bysaid top member against upwardmovement, a part carried by said biasedend portion of said supporting member and spaced above the same, a sheetretaining device carried by said supporting member and having anupwardly biased part beneath the first mentioned part to engage the endportion of a pile of sheets on said supporting member and retain thesame between said parts.

2. A sheet holder comprising a bottom member, a top member connectedwith said bottom member for movement with relation thereto, a sheetsupporting member supported between and spaced from said bottom memberand said top member, one end portion of said supporting member beingbiased upwardly, a part carried by said end portion and spaced above thesame, a sheet retaining device carried by said end portion and having anupwardly biased part beneath the first mentioned part to engage the endportion of a pile of sheets on said supporting member and retain thesame between said parts, said top member being movable to a positionabove the first mentioned part to retain the biased end portion of saidsupporting-member in its lowermost position.

3. A sheet holder comprising a bottom member, a top member connectedwith said bottom member for movement with relation thereto, a resilientsheet supporting member between and spaced from said top and bottommembers, one end of said supporting member being held against verticalmovement and the other end portion thereof being biased upwardly, amember carried by and spaced from said upwardly biased end portion ofsaid supporting member to engage the end portion of a pile of sheets onsaid supporting member, and a resilient sheet engaging member secured tosaid supporting member between the ends of the latter and inclinedupwardly toward the first mentioned sheet engaging member with its freeend below the latter to engage said end portion of said pile of sheetsand retain the same between said sheet engaging members.

4. A sheet holder comprising a bottom member, a top member connectedwith said bottom member for movement with relation thereto, a resilientsheet supporting member between and spaced from said top and bottommembers, one end of said supporting member being held against verticalmovement and the other end portion thereof being biased upwardly, amember car ried by and spaced from said upwardly biased end portion ofsaid supporting member to engage the end portion of a pile of sheets onsaid,

supporting member, and a resilient sheet engaging member secured to saidsupporting mem ber between the ends of the latter and inclined upwardlytoward the first mentioned sheet engaging member with its free end belowthe latter to engage said end portion of said pile of sheets and retainthe same between said sheet engaging members, said top member beingmovable to a position to retain said biased end portion of saidsupporting member in a depressed posi? tion and to. a position torelease said end portion for upward movement.

5. A sheet holder comprising a receptacle having a bottom wall, sidewalls and a front end wall, a sheet supporting member extending forsubstantially the full length of said receptacle above said bottom wall,the forward portion of said supporting member being biasedupwardly. andhaving adjacent said frontend wall an up! wardly extending part providedwith an inward-.- ly extending lip, a sheet retaining membersee cured tosaid supporting member and having a movable part below said lip andbiased toward the same to grip the, end portion of a pile of sheets onsaid supporting member, and a top closure for said receptacle normallyholding said biased end portion of said supporting member against upwardmovement and movable to aposition to permit said end portion of saidsupporting member to move to a position above said end wall.

6. A sheet holder comprising a receptacle having a bottom wall, sidewalls and a front end wall, a sheet supporting member extending formovable to a position to permit the free portion,

of the uppermost sheet of said pile of sheets to be elevated above thenext lower sheet, andbeing then movable to a supporting position belowsaid uppermost sheet and with its forward end between the forward endportions of said uppermost sheet and the next lower sheet.

7. A sheet holder comprising a bottom member, a top member connectedwith said bottom member for movement with relation thereto, a sheetsupporting member supported between and spaced from said bottom memberand said top member, one end portion of said supporting member beingbiased upwardly and being normally held by said top member againstupward movement, a part carried by said end portion ofsaid supportingmember and spaced above the same, a. sheet retaining device carried bysaid supporting member and having an upwardly biased part beneath thefirst mentioned part to engage the end portion of a pile of sheets onsaid supporting member and retain the same between said parts, said topmember being movable to a position to release the biased end portion ofsaid supporting member for upward movement and to permit the freeportion of the, uppermost sheet of said pile of sheets to be separatedfrom the next lower sheet and being then movable to supporting relationto said separated sheet with its forward end between the forward endportions of said separated sheet and said next lower sheet and todepress said biased end portion of said supporting member and retain thesame in said depressed position.

8. A sheet holder comprising a receptacle hav-. ing a bottom wall, sidewalls, and front and rear end walls, a top closure movably supported onsaid receptacle, a resilient sheet supporting member having at its rearend an upwardly extending part U-shaped incross section to receive, theupper edge portion of said rear end wall and support said sheetsupporting member in saidreceptaole, the forward portion of said sheetsupporting member being biased upwardly and having at its forward end anupwardly extending tart provided-seine upper edge thereof wthan inwardlyexten'dingmember, a resilient sheet retaining member secured adjacentits rear end to said sheet supporting member, the forward portion ofsaid retaining member being biased upst-wardly andnhaving its forwardend below said inwardly extending member, the forward portion of saidsheet supporting 'memberbeing held againstupward movement'bylsaidclosure when and support said sheet supporting member in.

said receptacle, the forward portion of said sheet supporting memberbeing biased upwardly and having at its forward end an upwardlyextending part provided at the upper edge thereof with an inwardlyextending member, a resilient sheet retaining member secured-adjacentits rear end to said sheet supporting member, the forward portion ofsaid retaining member being biased upwardly and having its forward endbelow said inwardly extending member, the forward portion of said sheetsupporting member being held against upward movement by said closurewhen the latter is in receptacle closing-position, and a U-shaped membersupported on and embracing said inwardly extending part and adapted toreceive the end portion of a transfer sheet and secure the latter tosaid inwardly extending part.

10. A sheet holder comprising a bottom member, a top member connectedwith said bottom member for movement with relation thereto, a

wairaiiaasupport said heet-suppo ting member in said receptacle, theforward portion of said sheet supporting member being biased upwardlyand having at its forward end {an upwardly extending part provided atthe upper edge thereof with an inwardly extending member;"and aresilient sheet retaining member-'secureda'djacent its rear 'e'nd'tosaid sheetsupporting member; the forward portion of said retaining'member being biased upwardly and having its} forward ie'nd'b'elow saidinwardly ex-teriding member,

v? the rorward personf said 'sl'iet supporting member being held againstupward movement by said closure when the latter is in receptacle closingposition.

13. A sheet holder comprising a receptacle having a bottom wall, sidewalls, and front and rear end walls, a top closure movably supported onsaid'receptacle for movement across said rear end wall, means forsupporting a pile of sheets'in said receptacle, said top closure havingadjacent the front end thereof a downwardly extending projection of suchvertical length that it may move over said rear end wall, and a memsheetsupporting member supported between said top and bottom members, one endportion of said supporting member being biased upwardly, a partextending upwardly from said end portion and having a lip extendingforwardly therefrom above and spaced from said end portion, a sheetretaining device carried bysaid supporting member and having an upwardlybiased part beneath sheets on said supporting member, and a devicesupported on said lip and having a part extend ing beneath the latter togrip-the end portion of a transfer sheet between the same and said lip.

11. A sheet'holder comprising a bottom member, a top member connectedwith said bottom member for movement with relat on thereto, a

sheet supporting member supported between said top and bottom members,one end portion of said supporting member being biased upwardly,

a member carried by said supporting member above and spaced from saidend portion thereof,

a' sheet retaining member carried by said supporting member andhaving anupwardly biased part beneath the last'mentioned member to engage the endportion of a pile of sheets on said supporting member, and a U-shapeddevice sup-- ceive the upper edge portion of said rear end h said lip toengage the end portion of a pile; of

ber supported on the upper portion of said rear end wall for movementlengthwise of the latter into and out of the path of said projection.

14. A sheet holder comprising a receptacle having a bottom wall, sidewalls, and front and rear end Walls, a top closure movably supported onsaid receptacle, a sheet supporting member havin at its rearend anupwardly extending part U-shaped in cross section to receive the upperedge portion of said rear end wall and support said sheet supportingmember in said receptacle, said closure having adjacent its front end adownwardly extending projection which is movable over said U-shaped partof said supber, a part carried by said movable end portion 1 saidinwardlyextending part and biased toward of said supporting member andoverhanging said end portion to limit the upward movement of the pile ofsheets thereon, and means carried by said supporting member to yieldablypress the end portion of against said overhangingv part and retain thesame normally against movement with relation one to the other whilepermitting the uppermost sheet of said pile to be withdrawn therefrom.

16, A sheet holder comprising a bottom member; a sheet supporting memberabove said bottom member havin one end thereof pivotally connected withthe adjacent end of said bottom member, the other end portion of saidsupportingmember being biased upwardly and having a part rigid therewithand extending inwardly-above thesame-in spaced relation thereto, a sheetretaining device mounted on said supporting member and having a partbelow the latter, and a top member slidably connected withsaidsupporting member for movement to and from a position above-said biasedend portion of the latter.

17. A sheet holder comprising a bottom member, aresilient sheetsupporting member pivota y c nn cted one end with the adjacent end saidpile of 7 sheets supporting member, a resilient sheet retaining 1 1 1 2of said bottom member and having its free end said supporting member andretain the-same in portion inclined upwardly, a part rigid With and itsdepressed position.

extending upwardly from the free end of said BRUCE K. SLONNEGER.inclined portion and having at its upper edge a lip extending above theadjacent portion of said 5 REFERENCEs CITED The following references areof record in the member secured at one end to said supporting fil f thispatent;

member and having its free end portion inclined upwardly and biasedtoward said lip, and a top UNITED STATES PATENTS member having sidewalls slidably connected 10 Number Name Date with said supporting memberfor -movement in 2,424,642 Towne et a1. July 29, 1947 a. direction todepress said inclined portion of

